2013 Buick LaCrosse: Car Seat Check

Families looking for a little luxury in their midsize sedan will find it in the 2013 Buick LaCrosse. This five-seater has a roomy backseat that nearly fit our three child-safety seats across it. Using narrower safety seats should make it easier to fit three car seats across the second row, but make sure to install the car seats before buying.

For the Car Seat Check, we use a Graco SnugRide 30 rear-facing infant-safety seat, a Britax Roundabout convertible child-safety seat and Graco high-back TurboBooster seat.

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The front seats are adjusted to a comfortable position for a 6-foot driver and a 5-foot-8 passenger. The three child seats are installed in the second row. The booster seat sits behind the driver’s seat, and the infant seat and convertible seats are installed behind the passenger seat. We also install the convertible seat in the second row’s middle seat with the booster and infant seat in the outboard seats to see if three car seats will fit. If there’s a third row, we install the booster seat and a forward-facing convertible.

Here’s how the 2013 LaCrosse did in Cars.com’s Car Seat Check:

Latch system: As with many GM cars, the Buick LaCrosse has five Latch anchors. Two sets are in the outboard seats and the fifth anchor in is the middle position. This setup allows car seats to be installed with Latch anchors in all three seating positions. However, parents should remember not to double up and attach more than one Latch connector to an anchor.

The anchors sit just below the seat bight opening, and by pushing down on the cushion in front of them, we were able to easily connect to the anchors. Three tether anchors are found on the rear shelf. They sit under hinged plastic covers and are easy to use.

Booster seat: Because of the sizable seat bolsters, it was a tight squeeze to get our high-back booster seat installed, but we manhandled it into position. The seat belt buckles sit upright in seat cushion pockets, and can be easily grasped by a child.

Convertible seat: Both the forward- and rear-facing convertible fit well in the backseat.

Infant-safety seat: This rear-facing car seat was easy to install and fit well without having to move the front passenger seat forward.

Does it fit 3 car seats? No, but it’s close.

Editor’s note: For three car seats — infant-safety seat, convertible and booster seats — to fit in a car, our criterion is that a child sitting in the booster seat must be able to reach the seat belt buckle. Parents should also remember that they can use the Latch system or a seat belt to install a car seat.

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